SANCTUARY MASAI MARA SEASONAL CAMP MASAI MARA KENYA 9 SAFARI TENTS Sanctuary Masai Mara Seasonal Camp is set on the banks of the Mara River - allowing guests to experience the Great Migration in Kenya s most famous game reserve, the Masai Mara.
LUXURY, NATURALLY Adventure, enchantment and Luxury, naturally - all delivered with a quiet, understated charm and understanding of place is the guiding philosophy of Sanctuary Retreats and our seasonal camp, Sanctuary Masai Mara Seasonal Camp. Sanctuary Masai Mara Seasonal Camp is located on a private concession on the banks of the Mara River and is operational from every year when the Great Migration is in the area. Nine spacious en-suite tents border the banks of the Mara River, where the resident hippo spend their days wallowing. A wide range of game and cultural activities are available. USPS Located on a private concession bordering the epic Masai Mara The camp is operational during the annual Wildebeest Migration Offers an array of activities including game drives, cultural visits, bush dinners, sundowners, balloon flights and scenic flights Developed conservation and community projects ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES This shared seasonal camp is located in a private concession and offers nine safari tents, furnished in a style fit for Ernest Hemingway and with all of the comforts of a permanent tented camp; making this the ideal location for the ultimate safari. Each tent offers an en-suite bathroom with indoor bucket shower. Each tent provides a hairdryer and mosquito nets. The tents offer comfortable furniture and hand-woven rugs; and include a fully-flushing, ceramic toilet and running water. There are also powered bedside reading lamps and an overhead light. The large entrance of the tent creates a perfect view and special netting is fitted to allow the breeze to pass through. A personal tent attendant will be on hand to ensure that the bucket shower is mixed to the perfect temperature at whatever time of day or night it is required. On the veranda are two director s chairs and a table to relax and enjoy a drink, catch up with a book or watch the animals grazing nearby. The main tent offers a dining area and lounge with comfortable sofas as well as a small library where lazy afternoons may be spent. Electricity supply is a combination of silent packed generator and battery system. LOCATION AND GETTING THERE Sanctuary Masai Mara Seasonal Camp is located in the Masai Mara on a private stretch of the Mara River. The camp is accessible by air via the Kichwa Tembo Airstrip which is approximately 20 minutes drive from Sanctuary Masai Mara Seasonal Camp. Flying time: Nairobi Wilson Airport NBO (WIL) to Kichwa Tembo Airstrip (KTC) - 45 minutes Road transfer: From Nairobi to camp 6 hours Please note that the luggage restriction for light aircrafts is 15kg / 33lbs per person in a soft-sided bag.
GAME VIEWING AND ACTIVITIES The Masai Mara Reserve is legendary for its abundance of wildlife. Fabulous for seeing big cats, their prey and all of the Big Five year-round, the Mara is also the stage for the greatest show on Earth - the wildebeest migration. From around July to October millions of grunting wildebeest and zebra cover the plains, often crossing the Mara River and moving between Tanzania and Kenya, closely followed by crocodile, lion and cheetah. Key wildlife include: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, zebra, cheetah, impala, wildebeest. The following activities are included in your stay: Game drives: At Sanctuary Masai Mara Seasonal Camp, game viewing starts from the camp. A pod of hippos lives permanently in the river just below camp and many other species come to drink there. Sanctuary Retreats experienced guides take you to all the hidden spots and our customised open safari vehicles offer all-round views, allowing for excellent photography opportunities. The Mara s rich eco-system includes acacia-studded savannah, riparian forest and woodland which attract more than 300 bird species and a stunning variety of animal life all year round. Maasai Village Visit: Get an insight into the vibrant and still traditional way of life of the Maasai. Learn about the medicinal plants that grow here, the importance of cattle and the stages of life through which all Maasai pass, from young boy or girl to respected elder. Accompanied by an experienced Maasai guide, you are invited to visit the village which is built along traditional lines; complete with cattle enclosure, outer palisade and mud and cow dung huts. Nature walks: Walk with our naturalist and learn about plants, trees and insects and their use in the daily lives of the Maasai tribe. Visit our award-winning wetlands, which cleanse wastewater naturally before returning it to the environment. There is an opportunity to plant a tree, leaving a positive mark in Africa. Our naturalist shares his intimate knowledge of the surrounding environment and how many of the trees and plants are used for medicinal purposes. Your guide will also point out animal signs which are everywhere, but not that easily noticed. Local School Visit: More and more popular are the visits organised by our guides to a variety of local schools during school term. These visits are free but we would recommend a donation to the school of anything upward of $15 per person. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES Hot air balloon safari: Your balloon is inflated against the first rays of sunrise and once aloft floats gently over the plains and the plethora of game. After around one hour the balloon lands and nearby breakfast is already being prepared. The smells of bacon, sausages and eggs drift on the breeze as you begin breakfast with platefuls of exotic Kenyan fruits and homemade pastries and, of course, glasses of bubbly to toast your flight. Additional activities are at an additional cost and can be pre-booked or booked while guests are in camp. A TYPICAL DAY ON SAFARI Schedule: 06:00 Wakeup call 06:30 Breakfast 07:00 Depart for morning activity 12:00 Lunch 14:30 Depart for afternoon activity 18:00 Sundowners 19:00 Dinner
DINING Breakfast, lunch, snacks during activities and dinners are all included in your stay. Meals are served in the dining tent. Breakfast is served before the morning game activity. During your morning game viewing activity, coffee, tea and a selection of scones and biscuits will be served out in the bush. Lunch will be enjoyed back at the lodge or a picnic lunch can be taken along on game drives should guests wish to stay longer in the reserve. As evening sets in, enjoy sundowner drinks and canapés in a secluded spot before returning to camp for pre-dinner drinks and a buffet dinner. Romantic private dinners can be arranged upon request. The majority of vegetables served come from our sister camp s organic garden. With prior notice, our camps are able to arrange halaal meals, however, please note our kitchens aren t strictly halaal and our chefs are not trained in halaal food preparation. Unfortunately, we are unable to arrange kosher meals. Meals typically consist of the following: Breakfast: Continental and full English Breakfast Lunch: Buffet style with vegetarian options Dinner: Buffet style with vegetarian options CLIMATE The climate in Kenya is mainly characterised by warm days and cool evenings. December to March are usually the warmest months of the year, while June to August are the coolest. April and May often see intermittent rains, and from September to November the days are warm with short scattered rains falling in November. CLOTHING Clothing should be cool and comfortable; and colours should blend in with nature as much as possible. Greens, browns and khaki coloured clothing are advisable for safaris. Guests are advised to pack their swimwear. We suggest long sleeves and long trousers and for morning and evenings due to mosquitoes; and a fleece, sweater or warm jacket for morning and evening game drives. Sturdy and comfortable shoes are essential. A complimentary overnight laundry service is offered in the camp. Accessories: Sunscreen, sunglasses and hats are essential. Binoculars and good cameras are an absolute must. The camp provides a torch as well as complimentary mosquito repellent and toiletries. HONEYMOONS AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS Guests celebrating their honeymoon will receive special surprises during their stay. All attempts are made to keep honeymooners separate from other guests. Our honeymoon services include: Private bush picnic with blanket and pillows Mid-morning bush stop with freshly-made pancakes served with various condiments Romantic turndown with tea light candles / fairy lights FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN We welcome children of all ages at Sanctuary Masai Mara Seasonal Camp. Activities can be arranged especially for children including tailored game drives, nature walks, treasure hunts, bird watching and animal print identification. Visits to the local Maasai village can include a variety of activities including mock spear throwing, fire making, hut building and cattle herding. There is also the opportunity to help with conservation by planting a tree in the tree sanctuary! We are flexible with meals and meal times. Children aged 15 years and younger are required to share with their parents. Triples are available on request. Private vehicle must be booked for children aged 5 or younger. Babysitting service is available on request (not a registered babysitter) at a nominal fee which will be paid directly to the child minder.
HEALTH Please should discuss health precautions for your travel itinerary with a qualified health professional at least six weeks before you depart. We advise all travellers to take precautions against malaria and we recommend speaking to your GP or personal physician four to six weeks before departure. No vaccinations are currently required for entry into Kenya. If you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic, then you are required to have a yellow fever vaccination. MONEY AND CREDIT CARDS All extras can be paid for with Visa, MasterCard, American Express and traveller s cheques. US dollars, Pounds, Euros and Kenyan Shillings are also accepted; however change will be given in the local currency. Diners Cards are not accepted. TIPPING GUIDELINE Tipping is not obligatory but generally accepted rates are $15 per guest per day for the guide and $10 per guest per day for the rest of the staff. SPECIAL REQUESTS Sanctuary Masai Mara Seasonal Camp prides itself on its personalised services. Please let us know if you have any special requests, dietary requirements, allergies or medical conditions. PHILANTHROPY PROJECTS Enkereri Village and school: Enkereri Village, is located at the top of the Siria Escarpment close to Sanctuary Masai Mara Camp. This Maasai village actively works on projects to improve the way of life and education for its people. Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy is working together with Enkereri on a number of projects including extending gas piping into designated cooking huts in the village in order for them to make use of biogas, a renewable energy source used for cooking and heat. Indigenous tree planting: Help us combat increasing deforestation by planting your own tree in our tree nursery. Wetlands Project: Through a unique system, wastewater is cleaned and released back into the Mara River and used in the irrigation system for our tree nursery. Maasai Women s Beadwork: Guests have the opportunity to see the women producing the beadwork and purchase the handicrafts. Organic Garden: Enjoy a delicious fresh salad picked from our own organic vegetables garden - one of the simplest forms of conservation.
SANCTUARY MASAI MARA SEASONAL CAMP LUXURY, NATURALLY Sanctuary Retreats was born in Africa with the launch of our first luxury safari camp, Sanctuary Olonana, in Kenya, in 1999. Today, the Sanctuary Retreats portfolio of luxury safari lodges and expedition ships brings a much wider choice of our boutique adventure than ever before but our standards remain the same. We promise adventure, enchantment and Luxury, naturally, all delivered with a quiet, understated charm and understanding of place. RESERVATIONS AND ENQUIRIES For more information and for your next booking, please contact us: + (254) 20 248 7374 reservations.kenya@sanctuaryretreats.com sanctuaryretreats.com FOLLOW US: